Heard

Last week, I wrote about how children should be seen AND heard, how the adults in their lives need to stop, look, and listen to their messages--those they verbalize and those sent by behaviors.

I didn't know at that time 17 people--most of them kids--would lose their lives in a few days.

The videos that followed this latest mass shooting were terrifying. Kids recording the bloodbath taking place outside their classroom doors. Rapid gun fire. Screams of horror. The S.W.A.T. team busting into a room and telling the kids to put their hands up. One kid's hands are shaking uncontrollably in that video.

I can't get that image out of my head. God, I wanted to jump through my screen and hug that kid, promise him or her it will be OK.

But, that's a lie.

It's not OK. It won't be OK. Until someone listens and acts upon the pleas.

Of course, the adults are talking. Some begging for change in policy. Others claiming now is a time to mourn, not jump to conclusions and politicize this tragedy. The adults are always talking.

They rarely listen to each other. Sometimes, I don't even think they believe the words coming out of their own mouths.

But, now the kids are talking. Some have bought into the BS idea that there is nothing we can do to stop this. That loss of hope by people so young makes my heart drop.

But, many of the survivors are begging for help, demanding change. There's no one cause for this epidemic, no one person or entity to blame. There certainly won't be one cure. But, that's not a reason to throw our hands up and claim it's just the way it is.

One kid held up a poster that read, "ENOUGH." His message is loud and clear.

Is anyone listening?


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